Professor Paul Crawford, director of the Institute's Centre for Social Futures, has contributed to a key government report, setting out a roadmap to recovery for the UK’s creative and cultural sector, post-Covid.

The report, Boundless Creativity, was produced jointly by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Arts, Humanities and Research Council (AHRC) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Recognising the innovative activities many organisations embraced during the pandemic, the report sets out ambitious recommendations to harness these digital developments and reach wider audiences in future.

This includes promoting collaboration between researchers and partner organisations, similar to the recent ‘What’s Up With Everyone?’ campaign led by Professor Crawford in partnership with Aardman Animations:

“Research supported by AHRC during the pandemic reaffirms the value of harnessing the power of cultural access, digital and physical, to mitigate the burdens of mental ill-health”

There are calls for a review of what constitutes Research and Development (R&D) by the HMRC, enabling smaller tech companies to innovate and become part of the wider ‘digital upskilling’ landscape.

The report highlights the value of creativity and culture in promoting health and wellbeing, and includes recommendations for social prescribing and access to the arts as a valuable strategy to tackle loneliness, isolation, depression and anxiety.

To find out more, visit the UKRI website.